Reirradiation with radiosurgery or stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy in association with regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma.

PURPOSE: No standard treatment has yet been established for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). In this context, the aim of the current study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of reirradiation (re-RT) by radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/FSRT) in association with regorafenib. METHODS: Patients with a histological or radiological diagnosis of recurrent GBM who received re-RT by SRS/FSRT and regorafenib as second-line systemic therapy were included in the analysis. RESULTS: From January 2020 to December 2022, 21 patients were evaluated. The median time between primary/adjuvant RT and disease recurrence was 8 months (range 5-20). Median re-RT dose was 24 Gy (range 18-36 Gy) for a median number of 5 fractions (range 1-6). Median regorafenib treatment duration was 12 weeks (range 3-26). Re-RT was administered before starting regorafenib or in the week off regorafenib during the course of chemotherapy. The median and the 6­month overall survival (OS) from recurrence were 8.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9-12.7 months) and 75% (95% CI 50.9-89.1%), respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) from recurrence was 6 months (95% CI 3.7-8.5 months). The most frequent side effects were asthenia that occurred in 10 patients (8 cases of grade 2 and 2 cases of grade 3), and hand-foot skin reaction (2 patients grade 3, 3 patients grade 2). Adverse events led to permanent regorafenib discontinuation in 2 cases, while in 5/21 cases (23.8%), a dose reduction was administered. One patient experienced dehiscence of the surgical wound after reintervention and during regorafenib treatment, while another patient reported intestinal perforation that required hospitalization. CONCLUSION: For recurrent GBM, re-RT with SRT/FSRT plus regorafenib is a safe treatment. Prospective trials are necessary.

Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Interbody Fusion Versus Microdiscectomy Without Fusion for Recurrent Lumbar Disk Herniation: A Prospective Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) versus standard revision diskectomy for recurrent lumbar disk herniation (RLDH). BACKGROUND: RLDH is the most common cause of redo surgery after a microdiscectomy. Commonly, in patients without evidence of spinal instability, many surgeons would simply redo microdiscectomy, while others proceed to a redo microdiscectomy with arthrodesis. According to the literature, there is no evidence of what the best management of an RLDH would be. METHODS: This study involved 90 patients who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy in the past and were now experiencing a new lumbar disk herniation for the first time. The patients were divided into two groups, each with 45 patients: group A received standard revision microdiscectomy, whereas group B received revision microdiscectomy with MIS TLIF.The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, operating time, blood loss, duration of hospital stay, costs, and complications were all prospectively recorded in a database and examined. Back and leg discomfort were measured using the visual analog scale. RESULTS: The mean total postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score across the groups exhibited no statistically significant difference, nor did the preoperative clinical and epidemiological data. Although postoperative leg pain was comparable in both groups, postoperative lower back pain in group A was much worse than that in group B. Additional revision surgery was necessary for six individuals in group A. Group A had higher rates of dural rupture and postoperative neurological impairment. Group A experienced much less intraoperative blood loss, longer operation times, and postoperative hospital stays. CONCLUSION: In patients with RLDH, revision microdiscectomy is effective. In comparison with conventional microdiscectomy, MIS TLIF reduces intraoperative risk of dural rupture or neural injury, postoperative incidence of mechanical instability or recurrence, and postoperative lower back pain. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, multicenter, comparative study.

Sporadic hemangioblastoma of cauda equina: A case-report and brief literature review / Hemangioblastoma esporádico de cauda equina: aporte de un caso y breve revisión de la literatura

Hemangioblastomas are rare lesions accounting for 1–5% of all spinal cord tumors and are mostly associated with von Hippel–Lindau syndrome. Localization in the cauda equina is uncommon. In this manuscript we aim to describe a rare case of sporadic intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina and present a literature review. A systematic research was performed on Pubmed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, using as keywords “spinal hemangioblastoma” and “cauda equina tumors”. The previous literature is integrated by the description of the present case. A 49 year-old female, presented on August 2020 to our institution suffering from claudication neurogena, right sciatica and paraesthesia in right L5 radicular dermatome for more than 3 months. Neurological examination revealed hypoesthesia on right L5 dermatome and weakness of right anterior tibialis muscle. An MRI which showed an intradural mass at L1/2 level and an angiography that showing a nidus of serpiginous vessels inside the lesion. Microsurgical en bloc resection of lesion was performed with adjuvant neurophisological intra operative monitorings. Histological examination provided the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. After surgery symptoms and neurological impairment gradually improved. A 10 months post-operative MRI showed no residual tumor. Although intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina without von Hippel–Lindau syndrome it is a rare pathological entity, this diagnosis must be taken in for cauda equina masses. Preoperative embolization is an option to minimize intraoperative bleeding. Radiosurgery seems to prevent recurrences when the tumor is not completely excised. Complete surgical removal of the lesion is usually possible and lead to a low likelihood of recurrence (AU)

Los hemangioblastomas son lesiones raras que representan del 1 al 5% de todos los tumores de la médula espinal y se asocian principalmente al síndrome de von Hippel-Lindau. La localización en la cauda equine es infrecuente. En este manuscrito nuestro objetivo es describir un caso raro de hemangioblastoma intradural extramedular esporádico de la cauda equina y presentar una revisión de la literatura. Se realizó una bùsqueda sistemática en Pubmed, MEDLINE y Google Scholar, utilizando como palabras clave «spinal hemangioblastoma» y «cauda equina tumors». Presentamos el caso clínico y se discute, y se compara con la literatura previamente publicada al respecto. Mujer de 49 años, se presentó en agosto del 2020 a nuestra institución. Los síntomas fueron claudicatio neurogena, ciática derecha y parestesia en dermatoma radicular L5 derecho durante más de 3 meses. El examen neurológico reveló hipoestesia en el dermatoma L5 derecho y debilidad del músculo tibial anterior derecho. La resonancia magnética mostró una masa intradural a nivel L1/2 y la angiografía mostró un nido de vasos serpiginosos dentro de la lesión. Se realizó una resección microquirúrgica en bloque de la lesión con monitorización intraoperatoria neurofisiológica adyuvante. El examen histológico proporcionó el diagnóstico de hemangioblastoma. Después de la cirugía, los síntomas y el deterioro neurológico mejoraron gradualmente. Una resonancia magnética 10 meses después de la operación no mostró tumor residual. Aunque el hemangioblastoma intradural extramedular de la cauda equine sin síndrome de von Hippel-Lindau es una entidad patológica poco frecuente, este diagnóstico debe tenerse en cuenta cuando una masa afecta a la cola de caballo. La embolización preoperatoria es una opción para minimizar el sangrado intraoperatorio. La radiocirugía parece prevenir las recurrencias cuando el tumor no se extirpa por completo (AU)

Sporadic hemangioblastoma of cauda equina: A case-report and brief literature review.

Hemangioblastomas are rare lesions accounting for 1-5% of all spinal cord tumors and are mostly associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Localization in the cauda equina is uncommon. In this manuscript we aim to describe a rare case of sporadic intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina and present a literature review. A systematic research was performed on Pubmed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, using as keywords "spinal hemangioblastoma" and "cauda equina tumors". The previous literature is integrated by the description of the present case. A 49 year-old female, presented on August 2020 to our institution suffering from claudication neurogena, right sciatica and paraesthesia in right L5 radicular dermatome for more than 3 months. Neurological examination revealed hypoesthesia on right L5 dermatome and weakness of right anterior tibialis muscle. An MRI which showed an intradural mass at L1/2 level and an angiography that showing a nidus of serpiginous vessels inside the lesion. Microsurgical en bloc resection of lesion was performed with adjuvant neurophisological intra operative monitorings. Histological examination provided the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. After surgery symptoms and neurological impairment gradually improved. A 10 months post-operative MRI showed no residual tumor. Although intradural extramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina without von Hippel-Lindau syndrome it is a rare pathological entity, this diagnosis must be taken in for cauda equina masses. Preoperative embolization is an option to minimize intraoperative bleeding. Radiosurgery seems to prevent recurrences when the tumor is not completely excised. Complete surgical removal of the lesion is usually possible and lead to a low likelihood of recurrence.

Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Brain Radiotherapy with Systemic Therapy in Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas: Is It Feasible? Therapeutic Strategies in Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas.

PURPOSE: For recurrent high-grade gliomas (HGG), no standard therapeutic approach has been reported; thus, surgery, chemotherapy, and re-irradiation (re-RT) may all be proposed. The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of re-RT by radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/FSRT) in association to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent HGG. MATERIAL/METHODS: All patients with histological diagnosis of HGG that suffered by recurrent disease diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), according to Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria, after primary/adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy treatment and underwent to re-RT by SRS/FSRT were included in the analysis. Second-line chemotherapy was administered. Outcomes were evaluated by neurological examination and brain MRI performed 1 month after re-RT and then every 2-3 months. RESULTS: From November 2019 to September 2021, 30 patients presenting recurrent HGG underwent re-RT. Median dose was 24 Gy (range 15-36 Gy), and median fractions was 5 (range 1-6). Twenty-one patients (70%) had RPA class ≤ IV. One patient had a histological diagnosis of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, 24 patients (80%) were affected by glioblastoma (GBM) including 3 cases of multifocal form, and 5 patients (17%) by anaplastic astrocytoma. Median time between primary/adjuvant RT and disease recurrence was 8 months. In six cases (20%) re-operation was performed, and in most cases (87%), a second line of systemic therapy was administrated. At a median follow-up time from recurrence of 13 months (range 6-56 months), 10 patients (33%) were alive: 2 patients with partial response disease, 7 patients with stable disease, and 1 patient with out-field progression disease. Of the 20 patients who died (67%), 15 (75%) died for progression disease and 5 (25%) for other causes (3 due to septic event, 1 due to thrombo-embolic event, and 1 due to car accident). Median OS and PFS after recurrence were 12.1 and 11.2 months. Six-month and one-year OS were, respectively, 81% and 51%. No acute or late neurological side effects grade ≥ 2 and no case of radio-necrosis were reported. One patient experienced, after reintervention and during Regorafenib treatment (administered 40 days after surgery), dehiscence of the surgical wound. In three cases, grade 2 distal paresthesia was reported. Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity occurred in seven cases. Three case of grade 5 toxicities during chemotherapy were reported: three septic events and one thrombo-embolic event. CONCLUSION: Re-RT with SRT/FSRT in association with second-line systemic therapy is a safe and feasible treatment for patients with HGG recurrence. Validation of these results by prospective studies is needed.

Traumatic compression fractures in thoracic-lumbar junction: vertebroplasty vs conservative management in a prospective controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Both surgery and conservative management are well established treatments for compression fractures of the thoraco-lumbar spine without neurological compromise. This article aims to compare the outcomes of conservative management to those of vertebroplasty, a relatively safe and simple procedure. METHODS: 102 patients were admitted to our neurosurgical unit between January 2012 and February 2016, presenting with a single-level, post-traumatic A1 or A2 Mager l type fracture, affecting the thoracic-lumbar spine without any neurological deficits. After description of both treatment options, the patients were asked to choose between vertebroplasty or conservative treatment. Accordingly, the patients were allocated into two groups and a prospective non-randomized controlled trial was carried out. The first group (Group A) included 52 patients, treated with bed rest and an orthosis. The second group (Group B) of 50 patients underwent a percutaneous vertebroplasty. Pain intensity (assessed via visual analog scale (VAS)), disability degree (assessed via Oswestry Disability Index), ability to resume work (assessed via Denis work Scale), vertebral body height loss rate, regional kyphosis angle (Cobb's angle), duration of hospitalization and treatment-associated complications, were prospectively recorded in a database and analyzed. Follow ups were planned at 1, 6, and 12 months after the injury. RESULTS: Group B, compared with group A, showed a faster improvement in VAS score as well as functional ability and return to work. Cobb's angle progression was significantly less in the surgical group. Morbidity, mortality, and complication rate were similar and comparable in both groups without a statistical difference (P<0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Vertebroplasty is a safe and effective treatment in post-traumatic thoracic-lumbar fractures compared with conservative management.